Live Big: Catch-M is a heartfelt and whimsical journey through self-belief, love, and the power of positivity that encourages readers, especially children, to believe in their dreams and find strength in kindness, gratitude, and connection. What was the inspiration for your story?

The inspiration for my Live Big Series came from my need to figure out how not to live in the dark when hard things happen. I lost a brother suddenly at the age of fifteen. I had no social and emotional learning or life skills to overcome such a hardship at the time. My parents did not either, and we struggled. Over the years, I went on a quest to discover ways back to my YES, to live my best life with meaning.

At a symphony with my husband, I do not know if you would call it God or divine inspiration, but it was like something whacked me over the head and said, “Kat, you need to write books about the power of a smile to help kids and everyone, live their best lives together.” I knew nothing about being an author. I was forty. I had never even met an author, but I honored the call. The best moments of my life are now watching kids hold my books like a lifeline. I hope my books help kids learn life skills to overcome adversity and live with full brave hearts, filling their heart’s treasure with the gift of CATCH-M love. How fun to all shine and share love’s wondrous power everywhere as we catch CATCH-M together!

What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?

The two most important ideas I wanted to convey in my Live Big Series were the power of our smile and how to live our best lives together. Our smiles are such outward expressions of how we live in our hearts. Our hearts are the wellspring of life. If we can fill our hearts daily with the gift of love’s wonder, the power of CATCH-M, we can live big in our magical kingdoms and achieve our wildest dreams together. Albert Einstein said, “If you look deep into nature you will understand everything better!” The African animals in my Live Big Series all pursue their wildest dreams. The readers watch these animals discover three powerful secrets to catch CATCH-M every day and build full brave hearts where they can live big together!

The art in this book is fantastic. What was the art collaboration process like with the illustrator Jomike Tejido?

Jomike Tejido is an incredibly talented artist who started as an architect but found his spark by designing picture books. I have been fortunate to work with him because my Art Director, Neil Gonzales, recognized his talent. The three of us had a blast imagining how to convey the fear of a little spark, alone in the dark, facing its fear and becoming so brave-hearted that it could shine and share love everywhere. Jomike’s work takes readers on a wondrous journey through time where readers can consider how the universe, Mother Earth, and all its inhabitants came to be. What a gift to think each of us are chosen and designed to be here because we are so loved and extraordinary! If and when we believe, we too can shine and share love’s wonder everywhere!

Is this the first book in the series? If so, when is the next book coming out, and what can your fans expect in the next story?

Live Big With CATCH-M is considered the first and last book in my Live Big Series. It explains the history of CATCH-M and how the gift of love’s wondrous spark came to live in all of our hearts. It can be the first book you read, in the middle, or the last. The book number on Live Big With CATCH-M‘s cover is an infinity symbol to represent the fact that love never ends and love always wins over fear. The next book fans can expect is a Live Big Playbook, a dynamic, fun workbook to inspire us to live our best lives as we catch CATCH-M every day together and build our heart’s treasure.

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